The Reverse Snobbery of Low Literature Aspirations
I really agree with the following:
I think we're in a cultural period that celebrates mass appeal and democracy and devalues experts.I, however, have faith in the idea that talent will triumph again. When you give people access to everything, they start to realize how valuable the good stuff is.
All the world loves a slush reader, that marvelous filter; they just don't realize it.
3 comments:
"Expertise" has been somehow conflated with "opinion," primarily by people without expertise so that they can claim that their opinion is just as valid as informed commentary. This drives me nuts, frankly. And if one more person says, "James Joyce is boring, thus literature sux," I'll scream. Really, I will.
We all *heart* Nathan today.
oxyjen - agreed, and @scott gf bailey, agreed. we all love nathan today. (and, usually, every M-F!)
oxyjen, I liked your comment. Yes, we should push our limits, but this BS myth that we are fed in American society that "you can do whatever you put your mind to," just isn't true. As a failed actor, I can attest to that. (So can Gladwell in "Outliers.") Yes, any one can "do" anything; but whether we achieve the success that we dream of (or reach the goal we dream of, such as writing/selling the next "Outliers") is largely out of our control, and not always attainable.
Cheers on your book...I look forward to seeing it on the shelves!
All the world loves a slush reader, that marvelous filter; they just don't realize it.
Truer words were ne'er spoke.
Post a Comment